Carton with replaceable cover



Feb. 25, 1964 o. HAAS CARTON WITH REPLACEABLE COVER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 19, 1961 INVENTOR. 07 T0 I/IMS By 252 fiiiflfilYE/f Feb. 25, 1964 o. HAAS 3,

CARTON WITH REPLACEABLE COVER Filed April 19, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTO orm I/Ms United States Patent Filed Apr. 19, 19$, Ser. No. 104,133 Claims. (Cl. 229-34) This invention relates to a carton having separate base and cover members which are easily and non-adhesively assembled to form an integral unit.

This invention further relates to a tubular walled carton having means for easily locking the walls in position.

In the packaging of small volume or seasonal articles, it is desirable to have a low-cost carton having an easily modifiable portion that can be inscribed with a special seasonal message. An example of this would be the packaging of an article such as a blanket or towel for the Christmas season in a carton that would be inscribed with a meassage of seasonal significance. Since the message would be inappropriate at other times of the year, it is desirable to be able to replace the message on those cartons still in stock after the season is over. For this reason the modifiable message bearing portion of the carton should'be non-adhesively secured to the rema nder of the carton so that it may be removed and replaced.

It is also desirable in cartons of this type to use a minimum number of adhesive junctures since there is a tendency for the adhesive medium to smear. It is, therefore, preferable that the Walls of the carton be locked together in a non-adhesive manner when the carbon is assembled.

It is therefore an object of tits invention to provide a carton having a modifiable and replaceable portion.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a carton in which the modifiable and replaceable portion of the carton is non-adhesively secured to the rest of the carton.

t is a further object of this invention to provide a carton having separate base and cover members which may be easily and non-adhesively joined.

t is another object of this invention to provide a carton having unique locking means between the cover and base member.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a tubular-walled carton having a unique locking means for securing the walls together in a non-adhesive manner.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent upon reference to the following specification in conjunction with the attached drawings.

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a blank of the base member of the carton.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of a blank of the cover member of the carton.

FIGURE 3 is an isometric view showing the carton base member in various stages of erection with portions cut away to illustrate the carton construction.

FIGURE 4 is an isometric view showing the relationship of the cover member to the base member.

FEGURE 5 is an isometric View showing the method of joinder of the cover and base members with portions cut away to illustrate the carton construction.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 3, the numeral 19 indicates a blank for a carton base member ltlil having a base 11. Joined to base 11 along a rear score or fold line 12, a front score or fold line 13, and side score or fold lines 14 are a rear extension Zil, a front extension 39 and side extensions 49. The rear extension 20 is divided into an outer face 21, a top face 22, an inner face 23 and a bottom face 24- by score or fold lines 25, 26 and 27. Faces 21, 22, 23, and 4 are the faces of the tubular rear wall 2?, FIGURE 3, which is formed by bending the rear extension 29 inwardly along the score lines 12, 25, 26 and 27 until the bottom face 24 rests on base 11. Rear wall 3,lZZ,Z9 Patented Feb. 25, 1364 "ice 2? is rectangular in cross-section, and has a series of hinged flaps 61 along its inner face 23. Each of these flaps 61 forms a locking aperture 60.

The other extensions are also divided to form faces for their respective tubular walls. Thus the front extension 39 is divided into an outer face 31, a top face 32, an inner face 33, and a glue flap 34 by score or fold lines 35, 36 and 37; and is bent inwardly along these fold lines to form a tubular front wall 39. As may be seen in FIG- URE 3, glue flap 34 is adhered to the base along glue line 55. This is the only glue line that need be used in the entire carton.

Each of the side extensions 49 is also divided into an outer face 41, a top face 42, an inner face 43, and a bottom face 44 y score or fold lines 45, 46, and 47; and is also bent inwardly along these score lines to form a tubular side wall 49. As shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, faces 43 and 44 are shorter than faces 41 and 42 since the outer and top faces 41 and 42 overlap the front and rear walls 2? and 39, while the inner and bottom faces 43 and 44 fit between the front and rear walls 29 and 39.

The front and rear walls me locked to the side walls 49 to maintain the carton in its assembled condition. For this purpose, triangular locking members 43 are provided on the ends of inner face 43. These members are inserted into slits 28 and 38, extending transversely of and through their respective score lines 26 and 36, and extending across the portions of both the inner and top faces of walls 23 and 39 that are adjacent to these score lines. The slits are placed inwardly of the edges 14 of the base 11 a distance equal to the width of the side wall top faces 42 so that the slits are in line with locking members 48 when the carton is assembled.

Extending between Le outer faces 41 of side walls 49 and the ends of walls 29 and 39 in the assembled base member are bellows fold members 50. These members fold along a diagonal score line 51 and abut the ends of tubular walls 2? and 39 when the carton is formed and serve as an additional means of tieing the side walls to he front and rear walls.

This base member may be assembled with a replaceable cover member such as the one shown in FIGURES 2, 4 and 5. Referring to FIGURE 2, the numeral 74} indi cates a cover member having a top 71 which may be windowed. Joined to the top 71 along a rear score or fold line 72, side score or fold lines 73, and a front score or fold line 74 are a rear extension 80, side flaps 9t and a front flap 91. For ease of opening, a hinged tab 92 is formed in front flap 91.

The rear extension Si? is divided into a rear face 81 and a bottom face 82 by a score line 83. The bottom face 82 has locking tabs attached to each of its ends along score lines 84. These latter score lines are aligned with score lines 73 so that the locking tabs 85 will be aligned with the side walls 49 of the assembled carton and will slide under the side walls when the cover and base mem-' bers are assembled. In the final assembly shown in FIG- URE 5, bottom face 82 and tabs 85 lay underneath the bottom face 2 of rear wall 29.

A- series of hinged locking elements 86 are formed in rear face 81. These elements are in alignment with the locking apertures 60 on the inner face 23 of rear wall 29, and may be displaced from the plane of face 81 and forced through apertures 60 to lock in the tubular rear wall 29. This locking engagement between the elements 86 and rear wall 29 is due to the configuration and resiliency of the elements 86. While they are illustrated as having shoulders 87 which lock against the rear wall, they may be of any configuration so long as they are slightly narrower than or equal in width to apertures 64 adjacent their hinged connection with face 81 and are wider than apertures 60 at some outer portion. This configuration will allow locking elements 86 to extend through apertures 69 with their outer portions locked in engagement with the inner side of face 23 adjacent apertures 60. The elements should be resilient enough that the wider portions may be bent when forced through the aperture and spring back in position to lock against the inner wall of face 23. A heavy paperboard meets these requirements.

- As shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, the cover end base members of the carton are assembled by placing extensions 85 under the tubular side walls 49 and sliding the cover member back until face 81 is against inner face 23 of wall 29. At this point lower face 82 and extensions 85 are underneath lower face 24 of wall 29 and locking tabs 86 are in alignment with locking apertures 60. The locking tabs 86 are now inserted through the locking apertures 60 to lock in rear walls 29. If necessary, the cover may be replaced by pulling elements 86 out of the apertures 60 and removing the cover. A new cover may be put on in the same manner.

While specific details of preferred embodiments have been set forth above, it will be apparent that many changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention. It will therefore be understood that What has been described herein is intended to be illustrative only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A carton comprising a base member having upstanding front, rear and side tubular walls,

said rear Wall inner face having locking apertures therea cover member having a rear extension hingedly connected thereto,

said rear extension comprising a rear face adjacent said cover and a bottom face hingedly connected to said rear face,

said rear face having hinged locking elements formed therein, said locking elements being in alignment with said locking apertures,

said locking elements having a portion adjacent their hinged connection narrower than said apertures and a portion adjacent their outer edge wider than said apertures,

said elements extending through said apertures with said wider portion being adjacent said rear wall inner face,

said rear extension bottom face extending between the bottom face of said rear tubular wall and said base member.

2. The carton of claim 1 further comprising means locking said side walls to said front and rear walls.

3. The carton of claim 2 in which said locking elements are resilient whereby said Wider portions may be bent and forced through said apertures, and then spring back to their original shape to lock behind the walls adjacent said apertures.

4. A carton comprising a base member having upstanding front, rear and side tubular walls,

the inner face on said rear wall having hinged flaps forming locking apertures therein,

a cover member comprising a cover having front and side flaps and a rear extension hingedly connected thereto,

said rear extension comprising a rear face adjacent said cover and a bottom face hingedly connected to said rear face,

said bottom face having locking tabs hingedly connected to each of its ends, said tabs being aligned with said base member side walls,

said cover member bottom face and locking extensions extending between said base and said rear wall bottom face,

said cover member rear face being adjacent said rear wall inner face,

said cover member rear face having hinged locking elements formed therein, said locking elements being in alignment with said locking apertures,

said locking elements having a portion adjacent their hinged connection narrower than said apertures and a portion adjacent their outer edge wider than said apertures,

said elements extending through said apertures with said wider portion being adjacent said rear wall inner face,

said elements being resilient whereby said wider portions may be bent and forced through said apertures, and then spring back to their original shape to lock behind the walls adjacent said apertures.

5. A carton comprising a base member having upstanding front, rear and side tubular walls,

the inner face on said rear wall having hinged flaps forming locking apertures therein,

a cover member comprising a cover having front and side flaps and a rear extension hingedly connected thereto,

said rear extension comprising a rear face adjacent said cover and a bottom face hingedly connected to said rear face,

said cover member bottom face extending between said base and said rear wall bottom face,

said cover member rear face being adjacent said rear wall inner face,

said cover member rear face having hinged locking elements formed therein, said locking elements being in alignment with said locking apertures,

said locking elements having a portion adjacent their hinged connection narrower than said apertures and a portion adjacent their outer edge wider than said apertures,

said elements extending through said apertures with said wider portion being adjacent said rear wall inner face,

said elements being resilient whereby said wider portions may be bent and forced through said apertures, and then spring back to their original shape to lock behind the walls adjacent said apertures.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,148,048 Gray Feb. 21, 1939 2,531,255 Clarke Nov. 21, 1950 2,614,746 Frankenstein Oct. 21, 1952 2,628,012 Goldsholl Feb. 10, 1953 2,755,982 Vander Lugt July 24, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 398,044 Great Britain Sept. 7, 1933 

1. A CARTON COMPRISING A BASE MEMBER HAVING UPSTANDING FRONT, REAR AND SIDE TUBULAR WALLS, SAID REAR WALL INNER FACE HAVING LOCKING APERTURES THEREIN, A COVER MEMBER HAVING A REAR EXTENSION HINGEDLY CONNECTED THERETO, SAID REAR EXTENSION COMPRISING A REAR FACE ADJACENT SAID COVER AND A BOTTOM FACE HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO SAID REAR FACE, SAID REAR FACE HAVING HINGED LOCKING ELEMENTS FORMED THEREIN, SAID LOCKING ELEMENTS BEING IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID LOCKING APERTURES, SAID LOCKING ELEMENTS HAVING A PORTION ADJACENT THEIR HINGED CONNECTION NARROWER THAN SAID APERTURES AND A PORTION ADJACENT THEIR OUTER EDGE WIDER THAN SAID APERTURES, SAID ELEMENTS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID APERTURES WITH SAID WIDER PORTION BEING ADJACENT SAID REAR WALL INNER FACE, SAID REAR EXTENSION BOTTOM FACE EXTENDING BETWEEN THE BOTTOM FACE OF SAID REAR TUBULAR WALL AND SAID BASE MEMBER. 